polyembryony

The formation of more than one embryo in an ovule. These may develop by division of the fertilized zygote (see cleavage polyembryony ) and thus be a product of sexual reproduction. They may also arise, alongside a zygote, from somatic tissue (see adventive embryony ). Embryos derived in this manner will have the same genetic constitution as the maternal parent. See also apomixis , parthenogenesis.